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Electric Vehicle Charging Report

Nov. 28, 2018

The BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) has released its Phase 1 report on electric vehicle (EV) charging. The scope of the report explores the potential regulatory issues, including the level of regulation necessary in the EV charging service market; rates for EV charging and other matters of concern to the BCUC as the energy regulator.

Recognizing that local governments have expressed an interest in providing and facilitating EV charging infrastructure within communities, UBCM registered as an interested party to share member policy on this matter. UBCM conveyed to the BCUC Inquiry two resolutions endorsed by the members in 2017 (B132 and B116) supporting EV charging infrastructure within strata corporations/buildings.

Presently, a municipality or regional district that provides utility services within its own boundaries is already excluded from the definition of public utility. The Phase 1 report is recommending to the provincial government that strata corporations that provide EV charging services for compensation also be exempted from the BCUC regulation.

Phase Two of the EV Charging Inquiry will focus on the regulatory framework for those service providers that are otherwise defined as ‘public utilities’ and have not been recommended for exemption.